Archive for December, 2018

Last year, at this time, we were in the grips of an Arctic air mass. Temperatures were way below normal and were in the single digits at Times Square when the ball dropped. This year is very different. We are expected to see temperatures peak out in the low 70’s on New Year’s Day as a warm southwesterly flow takes over. Today, New Year’s Eve, we will see temperatures slowly rise to around 60. The warmest part of the day is expected to be this evening. Winds will be light today out of the east and will slowly be veering around to the south by tonight. There may be some showers later on as a warm front crosses the area.

The storm track dictates what type of weather we experience. Low pressure systems that pass by to the west or north usually bring mostly rain to our region and milder conditions. This is due to the way winds blow counterclockwise around low pressure areas in the northern hemisphere. Low pressure systems that move to the south or east can potentially bring frozen precipitation to our area. For example, the low pressure system that brought heavy rain a few days ago passed by well to our northwest. Even up in the mountains of northern New Jersey, where I was for the Christmas holiday, precipitation fell as rain. The overall weather pattern is not expected to change anytime soon. It’s possible that the El Nino in the Pacific Ocean is causing this mild weather. The jet stream controls the storm track, so if the jet stream is to the north, temperatures will usually be above seasonal norms.

Cooler temperatures are expected on Wednesday, but they should still be slightly above normal. Some wet weather is expected later in the week as another system approaches the area.

That’s it for now. I want to wish everyone a very Happy, Safe, and Prosperous New Year!

A complex low pressure system will bring wet conditions to the Hampton Roads area today. A Flood Watch is in effect for the region, with the exception of the Eastern Shore. Inland areas that had snow last week may be more susceptible to flooding. Areas of fog are reducing visibility this morning. The combination of an upper-level trough of low pressure to our west and the frontal system moving into the region will bring the rain/showers. This system is very different from the storm system that brought rain and snow last week. It’s a much warmer system as winds will be mostly from a southerly direction today. Winds won’t be as strong as they were last week. The wind direction will switch to the west on Sunday, which will bring drier air into the region, but there still could be an isolated shower in spots. Monday should be very nice with mild temperatures. A cold front will bring colder conditions on Tuesday. That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

A low pressure system tracking E-NE is expected to bring a major snowfall for the western portions of North Carolina and Virginia. Some of the higher elevations of North Carolina may get upwards of 18 inches of snow! In Hampton Roads, it looks like we will see mostly rain with possibly some snow or sleet mixed in, especially over the western Tidewater area. A wind flow off of the water, which is relatively milder than the land, will almost guarantee that precipitation will be in the liquid form along the coast. Winds may gust to near 40 MPH in areas closer to the ocean and bay. Dry air to the north associated with high pressure will cause a sharp cutoff of precipitation. In western Virginia, there will areas that receive heavy snowfall while just a few miles to the north, there will only be light accumulations. Where that precipitation cutoff line sets up is still uncertain as computer models have been unable to come to an agreement. Also, individual models have been waffling back and forth. If you live in the affected areas, you should monitor the forecast very closely throughout the day today. This storm system will not be turning up the coast, like many others do. It will head out to sea as it intensifies. Had this been mid-January, I think that Hampton Roads may have received more snow, but ocean temperatures are still a little too warm. Minor coastal flooding and beach erosion will also be an issue as the storm intensifies. On Monday, the storm will depart and conditions will improve, but it will still be quite windy. Milder weather is expected later in the week. That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!